Woodturning

Woodturning Magic – From Firewood to Fabulous   by Darrell Feltmate

Over a hundred years to grow a tree and only a few months to take it down and burn it. Certainly people need heat and in my Nova Scotian climate a Wood fire is a beauty to behold on a snowy night with the wind whistling ’round the door. But so much of the wood that moves on down the road in big logging trucks has hidden treasure inside. Knots and crotches and storm damage covered over with scar and bark to keep the tree alive and growing though the storms and years.

But no one seems to want this wood except to burn it. Cabinet makers fear those weird grains and twists that trees make when they heal or when they have grown too much alone and resisted winds and sun. No, they want a board that cuts clean and straight with no surprises, one that will do what it is told and do only what is expected.

Up steps the wood turner. For him, the tree with its twists and curves and scars is a hidden cache of ore to be mined, looking for treasure within. The log but with its outward swing that so annoys the sawyer who wishes a straight and uniform log to set through the mill promises a swirl of grain for the turner and a dramatic contrast from the sap and heart woods within. Knots and changes where the roots move off like spiders’ webs will give a rich feel to a bowl or vase.

That crotch where the tree has begun to send off branches questing for food and providing shelter for birds and squirrels is now a mess for the sawyer. The lovely straight trunk has divided into sections too small for lumbering and there is tension in the wood where branches have resisted the pull of the earth for so many years. But the wood turner knows that within that crotch lies a wonderful feathered grain resembling nothing so much as an ostrich feather, waiting to display its glory to the world.

So the tree finds its way to the turner’s yard. After careful consideration a chainsaw is heard and a piece falls to the ground. Brushing off any dirt that may dull a tool, the wood is carried in to the lathe and secured for turning. The bark is removed and the wood begins to reveal its grain, a mystery never before seen by the eyes of mankind.

A reverent pause is spent as the wood is considered. Perhaps the figure is best seen if the wood is shifted a little one way or another. Maybe another cut will reveal still more beautiful wood. It was intended to turn a bowl but another shape like a box or a vase might be better to display the color and figure that have opened up. Coffee is poured and decisions are made.

Now the first moment of truth has arrived. The wood spins, the tool is sharp, a deep breath is taken and the shaving hiss as the cuts begin. A form has been decided and the turner moves it from mind and heart to hand as the lines are drawn in three dimensions before him or her. The spinning blurs the grain and the figure rests only in the turner’s mind. Questions abound.

Will the next cut open up more beautiful figure or will it remove an exquisite section of grain that can never be restored. It is not as if a canvas is being prepared for paint or color. Already the master’s hand has decorated the medium. Now the responsibility rests with the one who opens the beauty to the world or leaves it piled in the shavings on the floor.

What of the line? Will the piece be lightened by the form or made heavy and ponderous by the color of the wood. A line of grain can change everything. Perhaps a pause of the lathe will open the door to new considerations. Sometimes a little shift of the wood or a subtle shaving will make all the difference.

Sooner of later a decision has to made and the piece is declared finished. Indeed, an appropriate finish needs to be put on the piece to enhance the beauty of the wood and to make that grain stand out. Now it is up to those who look at the piece to decide whether it was good to save the wood from the fireplace. For the turner it is time to get another cup of coffee, take the chainsaw in hand, and stare at the rest of the log to dream of the next creation. Unlike the phoenix, before the ashes comes new life. Another logging truck goes down the road. For the turner it is a field of dreams.

About the Author

Darrell Feltmate is a juried woodturner who presents his work in various galleries and high end arts and crafts shows. He has a gallery of work as well as free wood turning instruction for the both beginners and the experienced at http://aroundthewoods.com.
Woodturning Project Wooden Box on the Lathe

Vic Firth 318RP12 2 3/4-Inch x 18-Inch Rolling Pin, Maple Barrel and Handles $38.99 What do orchestra drummers and bakers have in common? Vic Firth tools of course! Vic Firth was a timpanist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly fifty years. For the past thirty-five years he has turned his attention to manufacturing the finest drumstick in the world. In keeping with his exacting standards, the same woodturning expertise is now being employed to produce peppermills and sal…

Bottle Opener Turning Kit $7.99 Create a custom bottle opener everyone will talk about with this complete Bottle Opener Turning Kit. Turn your own blank to give it a custom theme like none other! Includes a chrome-plated opener and a 5/16” threaded insert that lets you remove the handle for quick and easy washing. Technical Details: Chrome-plated opener is built to last. 5/16” threaded insert lets you remove your blank for q…

Woodturners Genuine Leather Apron By Peachtree Woodworking PW7006 $69.99 This apron is perfect for keeping wood shavings and wood chips off of you and your clothes while woodturning. The soft leather apron measures – 37″ long by 20″ wide to cover most of your upper body. It also has two inside pockets as well as a left side breast pocket for easy tool access. The collar is made from a soft, comfortable materialand that can be adjusted to fit around your neck to keep t…

Dennis White Teaches Woodturning [VHS] Part of a course covering woodturning, this video deals with boxes, goblets and screw threads. It shows traditional working methods, including hand chasing screw threads for the more experienced turner. Running time is 87 minutes….

Dennis White Teaches Woodturning [VHS] Part of a course covering woodturning, this video deals with novelties and projects. It contains a list of projects ranging from a lace bobbin to a pen, and even a coffee grinder. Running time is 98 minutes….

Dennis White Teaches Woodturning [VHS] Part of a course covering woodturning, this video deals with turning bowls. It demonstrates how to use one tool and the differing methods of holding the wood. Running time is 85 minutes….

Woodturning: A Foundation Course DVD $12.95 Designed to improve your turning, Woodturning – A Foundation Course provides all of the basic turning techniques and practices in detailed step-by-step demonstrations as you follow along with author and turner Keith Rowley. Topics Include: - Suitable timber and tool selection - Demonstration of turning between centers of faceplate and copy turning - Sanding and fine finishing - How to maintain th…

Fabulous Finial Box $28.53 Cindy Drozda s DVD/Videos set a new standard of excellence in Instructional Woodturning DVDs! Cindy is one of the best at explaining not only how, but why she does each step of the project. In Fabulous Finial Box , Cindy goes through the entire process for turning her Finial Box. This DVD/Video shows the tools and methods for learning how to turn Cindy s signature Finial Box, as seen at her dem…

Skew Chisel: Darkside and Sweet Side $33.95 Learn the ins and outs of this sometimes ornery tool with Alan. He has taught and demonstrated the use of the skew to hundreds of individuals in all 50 states and 5 foreign countries. Reduce your fear and gain confidence with this amazing woodturning tool. Work with Alan to learn the basics of shaping, creating an edge and honing to refinement. He will take you through a dozen different cuts,…

SE 2 X 3/16 Flint/Fire Starter w/ Lanyard $0.01 Flint/ Fire Starter with Lanyard, size 2 in. X 3/16 in….